75 cl bottle
A reference Crianza that is actually a Reserva. Muga Crianza is a red wine from the Rioja D.O. produced by Bodegas Muga. This winery has a winemaking tradition of over 80 years and is located in Haro, La Rioja Alta, a town with the highest concentration of wineries in the world. Muga Crianza is an authentic Rioja blend made with 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo, and 3% Graciano, all of which are the most recognized grape varieties in Rioja.
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Rating: James Suckling 95; Tim Atkin 94; Robert Parker 93.
Technical sheet:Winery: Muga
Designation of Origin: Rioja
Variety: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano
Alcohol content: 14.0% vol.
Tasting notes: We find a wine with a medium-high layer, ruby red color with tile reflections. A dense tear, giving us a enveloping sequence in the glass.
Firstly, notes of red fruits such as blackberries and hints of spices appear. All this very well harmonized with smoky aromas from its passage through wood with a light-medium toasting. Vanilla on the branch is present in the background with notes of coffee.
In the mouth, it has a honeyed attack, enveloping tannins with menthol touches. It has an interesting final persistence in the mouth.
Service temperature: 16ºCGeology and Soil: Terraces of clay-limestone tertiary.
Elaboration: Fermentation with indigenous yeast in oak tanks. Aging for 24 months in barrels made with oaks selected in our cooperage. Prior to bottling, a clarification is done with fresh egg white. Once in the bottle, it will undergo a refining process for twelve months in our cellar, at least.
Pairing: at Made in Spain Gourmet we recommend pairing it with white veal meats, Iberian products, and some type of stew. It pairs well with semi-cured and cured sheep and goat cheeses, as well as creamy cheeses like those from Oncala or Alma de Calaveruela.
Muga Vineyards
Probably one of the terroirs that best defines the typicality of wines made in Haro. Its geological and climatic characteristics give the wines a marked personality with great aging potential, making it a unique place in La Rioja. Located a few kilometers from Haro, it is on a plateau with a very particular geological structure, to which we must add its fantastic protection from the cold winds from the north. In a few words, an exceptional vineyard. They are the first vineyards owned by the Muga family. The quality of their high-end wines resides in this paradisiacal place. Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano coexist together in this vineyard to give us magnificent wines. This is an example of a family's work to ensure quality in the future. Muga does not cease in its efforts to continue investing in the best terroirs in the area. For our newly planted vineyards, we not only seek to recover the highest quality lands, but we also work to ensure that the selection of each and every one of our vines is the best, and that is why Muga plants its vineyards with our own selection of vines. These vineyards, located at the highest altitude in La Rioja, at the limit of cultivation, produce wines with very good acidity and aging potential. Few wineries bet on such extreme areas, but our peculiar cultivation system allows us to produce wines of the highest quality and discover the potential of each of our vineyards.
La Rioja Alavesa: the elite of Rioja wines
Rioja Alavesa is classified as a sub-zone in the Rioja Designation of Origin. It has 13,500 hectares of vineyards and several hundred wineries, resulting in an annual average of around 40 million liters of wine.
The area produces especially red wines with specific general characteristics, such as a bright and lively color, a fine aroma, a fruity flavor, and a pleasant palate. These peculiarities are due to the clay-limestone soils of the area, which are excellent for the vines to absorb the necessary moisture. The climate and location of the vineyards also contribute to their quality, behind the Sierra de Toloño, which protects the vineyards from the cold winds of the north and allows the vines to better take advantage of the heat.
Red wines are the most representative wines of the region and are made with the varieties Tempranillo (around 79% of the total is produced from this grape), Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano.
Youth or year wines are mostly made with the traditional carbonic maceration method, where the whole bunches ferment in a 'lake' for between seven and ten days. Once free of skins and stems, they are transferred to tanks where they will finish fermentation.
Meanwhile, aging, reserve, and grand reserve wines are made using the Bordeaux or destemming method. It involves breaking the grapes
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